Amazon Works With Manufacturers and Consumers to Offer Customizable 3D Products

According to the Wall Street Journal, “Amazon announced Monday [July 28] the launch of the 3D Printed Products store (www.amazon.com/3dp), a marketplace that gives customers access to more than 200 unique print on-demand products, many that can be customized by material, size, styles and color variations, and personalized with text and image imprints. The new store is one of the largest online destinations to discover 3D printed products featuring convenient search tools, interactive 3D preview functionality and a product personalization widget.”Amazon will partner with several manufacturers for this latest venture in 3D printing. The retailer previously offered a minor community for 3D print lovers, but nothing close to this scale.

The innovative site will include a range of products from toys and home decor to jewelry and fashion accessories. In addition, the retail giant will also sell actual 3D printers, parts, and fittings.

The move is big news for small 3D-printed product producer and the 3D printer manufacturers themselves.

Market Watch notes, “Worries about demand for 3-D printers have weighed on the stocks recently. ExOne and 3D Systems have fallen more than 40 percent year-to-date, while Stratasys has shed 24 percent. But Amazon’s 3-D printing news could prove to be a game-changer for these companies.”

For 3D product makers, the website will offer more exposure than ever to their otherwise niche market items. Mixee Labs, for example, will take part in the Amazon undertaking. The Brooklyn-based company currently runs its own site that allows stylists to create 3D designs that Mixee will then manufacture for sale online.

Amazon, like Mixee before it, will take advantage of the customization available with 3D printing.

Entrepreneur.com reports, “Customers will be given templates for a range of products and then have the option of tinkering with the color, design and other elements. The goods can range anywhere from about $40 to $100.”